Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Two new press releases out today illustrate how hot the new Android smartphone service is.

According to a Nielsen study, Android was the most popular smartphone operating system purchased in America over the past six months.

The Google system accounted for 32 percent of new smartphone purchases. RIM, the BlackBerry folks, were second at 26 percent and Apple was third at 25 percent.

In overall market share, RIM still leads at 31 percent, Apple is second at 28 percent and Android is third at 19 percent.

Also today, Samsung announced that its Android-based Galaxy S series of phones have sold more than 5 million since launching in June. That figure includes more than 2 million U.S sales.

What to make of the numbers?

Android has gotten popular very fast. The operating system is available from a number of handset makers and on virtually every network. So, some of the growth is not surprising, and with a slew of new Android tablets due, including a promising one from Samsung, the format should only continue to expand, especially when many carriers are offering buy one get one free specials.

The Google plan seems to be to get its system into everyone's hands. It may prove to be a smart choice.

Apple, unlike Android and RIM, are only selling the iPhone on one carrier, AT&T. It speaks to how popular the device is that it still accounts for 25 percent of the market for most of this year when you can only get it from a provider that many feel is inferior.

Apple badly needs to get onto multiple U.S. providers, if it cares about these kinds of penetration numbers. Many potential Apple customers say they'll still buy iPhone if and when it comes to Verizon or Sprint or T-Mobile. But with the new Androids, they may get tired of waiting -- and that appears to be happening now.

RIM has just released a new BlackBerry model so it'll be interesting to see the numbers six months from now.

From a consumer standpoint, there have never been this many good smartphone choices on the market at the same time. No matter which carrier you use, chances are you can get a killer smartphone for it right now.

28 comments:

Anonymous
said...

I just recently switched from AT&T's iPhone to Verizon's Droid X. I couldn't be happier with my switch. Verizon's service is much better. I had a Blackberry a few years back. Moving from that to the iPhone was difficult at first. Moving from the iPhone to the Android system took some getting used to as well at first but I like it. My personal AT&T service was not very good at all and after countless dropped calls, failed service, no service, etc. I said enough is enough.

Jonathan, I have to disagree a little. Langston does point out your points about Apple on a single carrier, but everyone is talking about OS now, and iOS is only on one smartphone, but people are choosing the other OS that is on multiple phones. I, too, like the writer here, would think more Android OS would sell because there's more choice.

No matter what you say about any smart phone people will get really defensive it is becoming worse than politics & religion. Smart phone "fans" are as bad as british soccer fans, honestly guys buy what you want & leave everyone else alone

I think the point you guys are missing is that this isn't (or shouldn't be) a comparison of phones or OS's, this is about 2 business models going head to head. Android is proving that a single OS on a single phone, on a single carrier, is a dumb business model for long term success. Apple may set the standard, but they're going to get crushed unless they change.

I to have to somewhat disagree with Jonathon. While there is a technical difference, to most people its just a matter of semantics. The fact that most people "can't grasp" that comparison only proves it.

And while the Android OS is on multiple phones thru multiple carriers versus the singular iPhone hardware from one carrier, it should give Apple something to consider. The fact that smart phones with the Android OS is becoming so prevalent, that applications are open to developers and the hardware becoming more and more comparable to the iPhone, if Apple doesn't do anything soon, they may very well find themselves lagging behind....

I traded in my Blackberry Curve for an HTC Evo running Android. The 2.25"x3.75" screen on the Evo blows the BB screens out of the water. I love the Android interface, and expect to stick with this for a long time.

I agree the obvious comparison of business models in the article is actually on target. I guess the author didn't feel he should have to "spell it out" to everyone.

I like this discussion...and don't want my statements to be taken that I think Android is a inferior product, however the comparisons are just crazy.

I also agree that it really is a matter of comparing business models. I think that's really what I was getting at, but put it poorly, thank you for helping with that.

On a side note, Apple does need to change their 1 phone on 1 carrier. But they seem very content with their model...just look at the Mac OS. It's one OS from 1 "carrier" so to speak. That said, most people see Android phones in the wild, this is non-tech people, and they call it an iPhone...as they don't know any better. Just as most people call all MP3 players iPods, and will call most tablet computers iPads. Apple needs to change how they function in certain areas, but one can't argue that they have been very successful with their model up to date.

I think that one of primary points that should be noted, is that for Android products, users have the ability to upgrade their phone multiple times during the annual cycle as each phone manufacturer has the ability to utilize improved technology with their new models. With the Iphone, it is one model, made by one manufacturer, and usually updated once each year. Android makers provide the users with much greater variability in product, and improved quality through constantly changing innovation. I think this will be huge as most Android models are now able to utilize the 1GHZ Snapdragon processor which is incredibly fast and the manufactures will be able to jump to the new 1.5 GHZ processor that is expected in 2011.

No shocker, while most people like to "Blame AT&T", I went from an iPhone 3G to an HTC Aria on AT&T. With the Aria I get no dropped calls, and the internet speeds are several TIMES faster than the iphone 3G... same area, same AT&T network. I've been very happy with the Aria (which is considered a mid-range Android Phone). To Apples credit they did swap out my 3G phone a few times, but over 2 years, and three phones, the problems were never worked out, and consistent.

Basically it's not the AT&T network... the iphone is a big part of the problem that AT&T has been blamed for.

While I'm not the biggest fan of AT&T (use of bloatware, and horrible CSRs), I use it since my employer uses it, and offers us a discount.

REALLY EVERYONE.....arguing about a phone. It is so pitiful that we waste so much time worrying about things that don't really matter.....the world has really gone insane!! Can all of you imagine what we could accomplish if we put our energy into things that actually matter in life?

Everyone knows you cannot take in your phone and get the hardware updated, and you know that was not the point of the comment. Dont be so dense. The point was that if I want an updated Android phone set, I can go out and get one; one that has newer technology and improved hardware. In six months, if I were to go out and purchase an Iphone, I will still be getting the same Iphone that was sold six months ago. Not with the Android. If I don't like my network, I can purchase an Andorid on a different network. The whole point was that there are multiple manufactures competing against each other and primarily using the same OS. The only way to separate them from the other is to offer improved hardware. Apple updates their hardware annually, at best and Android manufactures employ a strategy to constantly improve their phones. All of this competition will only improve the experience with smart phones, Androids and Iphones. Apple will like getting beat, and they will change somewhat to try and capture those customers who will not go to AT&T. The motive to offer one phone free for purchasing another is a wonderful way for the cell companies to entice users to their networks. If you think Verizon is doing it because something is wrong with the Androids or thier service, you are way off base. The name of the game is to get paying customers to your network. AT&T has gone as far as they can go with their with their crummy network, and Apple has gone as far as they can on AT&T.

The iPhone changed the mobile phone as we knew it. I switched from Verizon to AT&T for the iPhone. Verizon's service area is better but the pros of the iPhone made it worth the switch. I love Apple products, and from the looks of the ALWAYS crowded store at SouthPark I am not alone.

I have yet to see an Android phone with face recognition and face-to-face phone calling. Apple still leads with the innovation, and by the time when Android catches up next year, Apple will have probably unveiled something even cooler. iPhone is a beautiful device, but I have to give it to Google's Android for staying with open source and making it easier to develop apps for.

I think that the activation figures for os's is the real metric. Apple currently activate 250000 permonth (including touches and pads which must be over half) and Google activate 200000 and accelerating - virtually all phones. So in terms of OS it's soon going to be pretty even. in terms of phones I think google is winning. As people start using android more, it should become apparant that ios is like a kids version of android - flash (despite the lac of it)and could have been sooo good if it wasn't critically limited by a greedy, controlling manufacturer. Forget the jailbreak argument - most people don't do what they are told is naughty. And most people with the techyness to bother jailbreaking would now choose an android on value/performance/openness.

Yeah, Android is slowly getting towards domination. Right now, Apple is the one dominating the market but if they don't improve and try something new, Android will take the world by storm and replace those iShits they call it...

About this blog

Langston Wertz Jr. has been an Observer reporter since1988. He has reviewed video games and tech equipment for more than 10 years. Favorite game? Madden football. Favorite geek gear? Anything audio-visual.